Smackdown Results – 12/23/11

The Smackdown video plays, and we’re brought into the arena with a big fireworks display. Josh Mathews, Michael Cole, and Booker T welcome us to the show.

Big Show’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring looking pretty jovial. The announcers talk about Big Show ending his nine-year title drought on Sunday only to have it taken away by Daniel Bryan. Big Show says he thought he’d be standing here tonight as the World Heavyweight Champion, but he isn’t. He can’t believe the new World Heavyweight Champion is Daniel Bryan. Big Show is going to ask Bryan to come down in a few moments so he can congratulate him, but he has to say something.

Ever since Sunday, a lot of people have been asking him about how he feels about what happened. He scratched and clawed for nine years to become a World Champion, and he finally got there on Sunday. It wasn’t easy. Mark Henry isn’t kidding when he says he’s the World’s Strongest Man. He’s never been humbled more than being in the ring with Mark Henry. He was proud to be World Heavyweight Champion, and just like that, it was gone. He’s been going through some mixed emotions: disappointment, anger, shock, rage, confliction, and much more. On Raw, Josh Mathews asked him a question. They show a video of Mathews telling Big Show that he had the shortest World Heavyweight Championship reign in history. Big Show didn’t take that well. Big Show says he’s proud for not going over the edge. He’s had several days to think about this, and he wants to talk about his feelings.

Mark Henry’s music hits, and he hobbles his way to the ring. His ankle is still taped up. Big Show paces the ring as Henry gets inside the squared circle. Henry asks if Big Show said he was proud. Henry asks what he could be proud of. Is he proud that he had the shortest reign in the history of the World Heavyweight Championship? Henry says they’ll put that on his tombstone. “Here lies the Big Show: the man with the shortest reign in the history of the WWE.” Henry says he knows how Big Show honestly feels: embarrassed and humiliated. That’s how Henry feels. What Big Show should do is take a week off and quit the business. It’s the holiday season, so it’s likely Big Show can get a job working as Santa Claus. Henry wants his rematch with Daniel Bryan tonight. Big Show looks confused as to why Henry thinks he deserves a rematch.

Daniel Bryan’s music hits, and the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring. Bryan says he knows Big Show can’t believe that he’s the champion, and neither can Mark Henry. No one in the arena fully believed that he could be World Heavyweight Champion, not even himself. He’s not the World’s Strongest Man; he’s not even stronger than most of the guys in the back. He’s also not the world’s tallest athlete. He’s one of the shortest guys in the company. He’s not the fastest or the smartest. He doesn’t have a cool name, no catchphrase, no charisma, he’s not attractive, and nothing about him screams “WWE Superstar”. But he is a very good wrestler, and he hopes he’ll one day be one of the great ones. In spite of all that he isn’t, he is the World Heavyweight Champion.

Mark Henry says Bryan is a pipsqueak, and every time he’s laid his hands on him, he’s beaten the hell out of him. Henry says he’s telling him to look him in the eyes and see that he wants the World Heavyweight Championship back tonight. Big Show asks what makes him think he deserves the rematch. Big Show asks if he forgot that he knocked Henry out and pinned him on Sunday. Henry says he hasn’t forgotten it, and he’s sure no one else has. Everyone probably remembers all forty-five seconds of it. Big Show gets insulted, and he wants to throw down with Henry.

Teddy Long’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage. He says before Show and Henry go to “rocking around the Christmas tree,” he has to say something. Both of them deserve the chance to compete against Daniel Bryan, but tonight they’ll compete against each other. The winner will be the first to challenge Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship. Long wishes them luck, and he congratulates Daniel Bryan. Long wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. HOLLA!

Big Show shakes Daniel Bryan’s hand in the ring. Bryan gets out of the ring, and he extends his hand to Henry. Henry goes to shake his hand, and Bryan slicks his hair back as he leaves. Henry isn’t happy about that.

Zack Ryder will take on Cody Rhodes in a non-title Champion vs. Champion match.

They circle the ring and lock up. Ryder gets a side headlock applied, but Rhodes whips him off. Ryder quickly shoulder blocks him down, and Rhodes just as quickly takes him down with a drop-toe-hold. Rhodes applies an arm bar, but Ryder fights up and backs him to the corner. Rhodes whips him to the corner, and he runs into Ryder’s elbow. Ryder jumps over him and hits a pair of arm drags. Ryder applies an arm bar, but Rhodes fights up. Rhodes puts him in the corner, and the hold is broken. Rhodes punches him, and he sends him to the corner. Ryder slingshots over him, and he hits another arm drag. Ryder applies an arm bar, but Rhodes fights up and whips him off. Ryder goes for another arm drag, but Rhodes blocks it. Rhodes winds up hitting him with an uppercut and throwing Ryder out of the ring.

Ryder quickly gets in the ring as Rhodes is showing off for the crowd. Ryder clocks him, but Rhodes comes back and clotheslines him over the top rope. Ryder lands on the apron, and Rhodes kicks him off to the floor. Ryder kicks him as he gets out of the ring. Rhodes gets up, and he pushes Ryder into Booker T. Rhodes throws Ryder back into the ring, and he stares at Booker as he stands up at the commentary table. Booker sits back down as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Rhodes send Ryder to the corner. Rhodes runs into an elbow, and Ryder charges at him, but Rhodes hits him with an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Rhodes applies a hammerlock/chin lock combo. Ryder fights up, and he goes into the ropes. Ryder ducks a few clotheslines, and he goes for a flying cross-body block, but Rhodes ducks it. Ryder hits the ropes hard, and Rhodes covers twice for a near fall. Rhodes applies the same submission move. Ryder fights up, blocks a whip to the turnbuckle, and they bump heads. Both men are down now.

They both get up at the same time. Ryder ducks a clothesline, and he hits a pair of forearms. Ryder hits a face-buster, and he backs to the corner. Ryder hits a running forearm in the corner, and he follows up with a Broski Boot for a near fall. Ryder goes for a missile dropkick, but Rhodes blocks it. Rhodes goes crazy on him with some kicks.

Booker T gets on top of the commentary table, and he says he’s in the holiday spirit, so he’ll sing a song for everybody. Booker T starts singing, “Cody The Red Nosed Reindeer.” Rhodes isn’t happy about this. Rhodes then turns into a Rough Ryder, and Ryder picks up the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Zack RyderMatch Rating: * 1/2

Booker T has one more verse of the song. “Cody with your nose so bright, you just got beat down… tonight.” Booker T laughs as his music hits. Rhodes looks at him angrily as he heads to the back. Booker T high fives Josh Mathews.

Teddy Long is backstage when Santino Marella’s cobra startles him. Yes, I’m aware that sounds bizarre. Marella says he’s here on official business. Since Zack Ryder is the new United States Champion, he doesn’t have the time to be the assistant General Manager of Smackdown. Long says he needs time to think about it. The cheesy saxophone music hits, and Aksana walks in. Long introduces her to Santino Marella. Aksana says she knows many position, and if he needs help or relief, he can ask her any time for a hand or a job. Long says he’ll get with her later, and she walks off. Marella brings the cobra up, and he puts it down when Vickie Guerrero walks up with Dolph Ziggler.

Vickie mocks the fact that Daniel Bryan is the new World Heavyweight Champion. Ziggler says he wants to demand his obligatory rematch when he’s ready. Ziggler says Bryan is a joke as a champion. Bryan even said he’s not smart or charismatic. He’s all those things and more. Ziggler says Bryan is a good wrestler who wants to be great. Ziggler asks Long to let a great wrestler show him just how good he is. The WWE Universe wants to see it. Long says he’s on, and he says that Ziggler made his Kwanzaa, Christmas, and Hanukah all roll into one. Long dances, and Vickie says, “Bah humbug!” They walk off, and Long continues to dance.

Big Show will take on Mark Henry to determine who will face Daniel Bryan for his World Heavyweight Championship.

-Commercial Break-

Winner will face Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight ChampionshipBig Show vs. Mark Henry

Before the bell rings, David Otunga makes his way to the ring. He’s in his bowtie and argyle vest. Otunga says his name, and he says he’s the legal council of the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Interim Raw General Manager, John Laurinaitis. Mr. Laurinaitis is responsible for the wellbeing of all the WWE superstars. While Mark Henry has the heart of a lion, he is not cleared to compete tonight. Henry has suffered multiple bruises to an already injured ankle. That has caused his blood pressure to rise, so the match will not take place tonight. The crowd boos. On behalf of Mr. Laurinaitis, he’d like to wish everyone a happy holiday. Big Show then KILLS him with the WMD! Coffee spills everywhere as he goes down! Mark Henry gets out of the ring, and he goes to the back.

They show multiple replays of the punch. The slow-motion replay shows the nasty connection. That looked awesome.

Daniel Bryan will take on Dolph Ziggler later tonight in a non-title match.

-Commercial Break-

Teddy Long is walking backstage when The Miz walks up to him. The Miz asks what he’s doing tonight, and Long doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The Miz says he was told to be here tonight, and Long says he never said that. Miz asks what kind of show Long is running. Miz says this is why Mr. Laurinaitis is running circles around him. Miz says this is why Smackdown is in the shape its been in. Since he won the WWE Championship in 2010, there hasn’t been one Smackdown wrestler in a main event. He’s been in five, including the main event of WrestleMania, where he defended his title twice. He also pinned John Cena. He’s going to go out to the ring and disrupt the show. The Miz won’t let anyone compete tonight, and there’s nothing anyone can do about that. Long says that won’t happen. The Miz tells him to find someone to face him.

They show the speech John Cena gave last week at “Tribute to the Troops.”

The Miz makes his way to the ring. He’ll be in action next.

-Commercial Break-

The Miz does his “Really” shtick. The Miz wonders if Teddy Long can find anyone to face him. The Miz says he can’t blame him, and he rolls footage of him taking out R-Truth and John Morrison. The Miz asks anyone at all to come out. The Miz says the entire Smackdown locker room is a bunch of cowards. The show lacks guts, and it lacks a face. No star is brighter than his. No one has the ability to be as big of a crossover star as he is. He has movie deals, he’s on TV, and he’s on the radio… Sheamus’s music plays, and he accepts Miz’s challenge.

The Miz vs. Sheamus

They lock up, and Sheamus backs him to the corner. Miz knees him in the midsection, and he punches away at him. Sheamus quickly powers him down and hits a body slam for a one count. The Miz quickly rolls out of the ring. Sheamus follows him, and Miz gets in the ring. Miz cuts him off on the apron, and he snaps Sheamus’s arm off the ropes. Miz sends him shoulder first into the ring post, and he throws him into the ring. The Miz covers for a one count. Miz applies an arm bar, but Sheamus quickly fights up. Sheamus sends him to the corner, but he misses a running shoulder block. Miz hits his patented clothesline in the corner, and he hits a pair of running boots to the face. The Miz finishes him off with a DDT for a near fall. Miz kicks him down in the corner, and he chokes him with his boot.

Miz backs up and sizes Sheamus up. Miz charges, and Sheamus takes him out with a pair of hammer throws. Sheamus hits an Irish Curse, and he sets him up for the Celtic Cross. The Miz slides off, and he boots the arm. The Miz goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Sheamus fights him off. Sheamus catches him with the Brogue Kick for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: SheamusMatch Rating: *

World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan will take on Dolph Ziggler next.

-Commercial Break-

Wade Barrett talks about skinning “The Viper” Randy Orton

Wade Barrett makes his way to the ring. Barrett says his “Barrett Barrage” has been on a great roll as of late. He’s been in the Viper’s head like no one else has been. A minor speed bump is never enough to derail the barrage. Barrett then shows how he skinned the Viper. They show footage of Barrett beating Randy Orton on Smackdown last month following a thumb to the eye. The second clip is of him beating Randy Orton at Survivor Series after catching him with a surprise Wasteland. Barrett is happy that he beat Orton at Madison Square Garden, the biggest stage of them all. The final clip is of him putting Orton through a table on this past Raw.

Barrett says that was his personal favorite: putting Randy Orton through a table. Given his sublime performances against a man who is, no, WAS one of the greatest in the history of WWE, until he encountered Wade Barrett, that should put him firmly in line to take on the new World Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan. That concludes what he came out to say. Barrett thanks the crowd for their time, and as they say in England, Happy Christmas.

Randy Orton’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage. Orton beats on Barrett, and he throws him into the ring. Orton stalks Barrett and goes for the RKO, but Barrett shoves him off. Barrett quickly retreats to the back, but Orton chases him down backstage. They brawl backstage. Orton punches away at him, but Barrett kicks him in the midsection and runs away. Orton catches up with him, and he sends him into a chained fence. Orton throws him over a railing, grabs a hose, and he waters Barrett down. Orton throws Barrett over a table, takes a garbage can, and dumps the contents out on him. Orton bounces Barrett on a car, and he bounces his head off the roof. Orton stares at Barrett, and he hits an RKO on the roof of the car!

World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan will take on Dolph Ziggler later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

The “Prophetless” video is shown again.

Primo is in the ring already with Rosa Mendes and Epico.

Primo w/ Epico and Rosa Mendes vs. Kofi Kingston w/ Evan Bourne

Primo immediately kicks Kingston, and he beats him down to the mat. Primo applies a chin lock, but Kingston fights up. Primo quickly takes him down with a Russian Leg Sweep, and he applies a modified Regal Stretch. Kingston fights up, and he punches out. Primo quickly knees him down, sweeps the legs, drops a leg, and finishes him off with an elbow drop for a near fall. Primo sends him to the corner, but Kingston sidesteps a running splash. Kingston hits a pair of chops and a dropkick. Kingston goes for a superman punch, but Primo blocks it. Kingston blocks a rollup, and he hits his double springboard cross-body block for a near fall. Primo kicks him, sends him to the corner, and Kingston catches him with a pendulum kick. Kingston goes to the top rope, but Epico and Rosa distract him. Primo catches Kingston with an arm drag off the top for a near fall. Primo isn’t happy about the call. Primo charges, but Kingston ducks the clothesline, and he hits the Trouble in Paradise for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Kofi KingstonMatch Rating: *

They play a video that hypes the WWE’s three new champions coming out of WWE TLC. They finish it off by showing highlights of the six-man tag team match from Raw.

Daniel Bryan’s music hits, and the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring. He’ll take on Dolph Ziggler next.

-Commercial Break-

Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Vickie Guerrero

They lock up, and Bryan gets a quick waist lock. Ziggler turns it, and they wrestle around a bit. Bryan takes him down with a dropkick. They circle the ring, and they attempt a test of strength. Bryan applies a side headlock, but Ziggler whips him off. Bryan takes him down while attempting a leapfrog, and he applies a perfectly executed Mexican Surfboard. Bryan lets him down, and he goes for it again. Ziggler struggles, so Bryan delivers an uppercut to his jaw. Ziggler avoids a dropkick, and he kicks away at Bryan. Ziggler does some sit-ups in the middle of the ring to show off. Bryan quickly tries to catch him with a LeBell Lock, but Ziggler gets out of it. Bryan uppercuts him a few times, and he sends him to the corner. Bryan charges, and Ziggler drops him into the turnbuckle. Ziggler hits a reverse body slam for a near fall.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Ziggler dropkick Bryan down. Ziggler shows off for the crowd, and he applies a chin lock. Bryan fights out, and Ziggler quickly kicks him in the midsection. Ziggler sends him into the ropes, and they take each other out with a pair of cross-body blocks. The referee begins counting them down.

Jack Swagger makes his way to ringside as Bryan and Ziggler punch away at each other. Ziggler sends him to the ropes, but Bryan hangs on. Ziggler charges, and Bryan back body drops him over the top rope. Bryan hits the ropes, and he goes flying with a suicide dive. Bryan sends him into the ring, and Swagger takes him down with a running shoulder block. Vickie had the referee distracted. Big Show makes his way to the ring as Ziggler throws Bryan into the ring. Ziggler sizes Bryan up, and he applies a Sleeper Hold. Bryan gets out, rolls him up for a two count, and rolls through again for a bridging German suplex for another near fall!

Bryan hits some kicks, but Ziggler ducks the big head kick. Ziggler attempts a Zig-Zag, but Bryan counters it. Bryan catches him with a nasty kick to the skull for a near fall. Vickie laughs at the crowd. Bryan sets him up on the top rope, and he goes for a super hurricanrana, but Ziggler counters into a sunset flip for a near fall! Ziggler hits a quick leg drop bulldog for another near fall! Ziggler shoves him to the corner, and he punches him. Ziggler sets him up on the top rope, and he goes for a super hurricanrana, but Bryan gets out. Bryan crotches him on the top rope, and he catches Ziggler with a NASTY super back suplex! Bryan covers, but Ziggler gets his foot on the bottom rope at the last possible moment.

The referee is counting the men down. Jack Swagger runs around, and he hits Big Show. Big Show just angrily looks at him. Big Show chases him into the ring, and he grabs Swagger by the throat. Teddy Long quickly runs out, and he orders Big Show to release Swagger. Long says he’s going to make everybody happy. He’s turning this match into a tag team match. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger will take on Daniel Bryan and the Big Show. That match will happen right now.

This is a continuation of the first match. Big Show is in the ring with Jack Swagger. Swagger has him in a waist lock, but Big Show turns it to one of his own, and he takes Swagger down. Big Show clubs him down and applies a side headlock. Big Show takes him down with a headlock takeover, and he covers for a one count. Big Show chops him in the corner, and Ziggler is tagged in. Ziggler seems reluctant to get in the ring. Big Show intimidates him, and he shoves him to the corner. Big Show hits some body blocks, and he chops him down. The crowd chants, “One more time,” so Big Show obliges them. Big Show chops the chest, and he body slams him down. Big Show tags in Bryan.

Bryan viciously kicks him down in the corner, and he whips him hard to the opposite side. Bryan goes for a running dropkick in the corner, but Ziggler moves. Bryan crashes to the mat as Ziggler tags in Swagger. Swagger kicks away at him before hitting a Swagger Bomb for a near fall. Swagger under-hooks the arm, and the crowd cheers on Bryan. Bryan stomps the feet, and he knocks Ziggler down. Swagger kicks him down in the corner. Bryan comes back with some punches. Swagger counters, and he crotches him on the top rope. Bryan is in the tree of woe as Swagger kicks at him. Ziggler gets a cheap shot in as the referee is distracted. Swagger applies a leg lock, but Bryan kicks him in the face. Swagger quickly kicks him in the midsection, and he tags Ziggler in. Ziggler applies a single leg crab. Bryan claws to get over to Big Show so Ziggler elbow drops him. Ziggler applies a Sleeper Hold, but Bryan sends him flying into the ring post and out of the ring!

Big Show and Swagger are tagged in. Big Show hits a pair of clotheslines, sends him to the ropes, and he hits a big shoulder block. Big Show takes Ziggler out with a sidekick. Big Show goes for a Chokeslam, but Swagger kicks him in the knee. Bryan is tagged in, and Swagger quickly counters his missile dropkick attempt. Swagger goes for an Ankle Lock, but Bryan counters into the LeBell Lock! Swagger has no choice other than to tap out!

Winners by Submission: Daniel Bryan and Big ShowMatch Rating: ** 1/2

Daniel Bryan celebrates big time in the ring with the World Heavyweight Championship. Big Show is shown watching him celebrate on the ramp. Big Show just stares at him expressionless. Bryan holds the championship over his head as the show ends.

Bump of the Night: Randy Orton RKOing Wade Barrett on the roof of a car!Match of the Night: Daniel Bryan and Big Show vs. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger ** 1/2

Mike’s Thoughts

This was a fun edition of Smackdown. It wasn’t too heavy on the wrestling side of things until the final half-hour, but I still found the show to be a fun two hours. This is always a weird two weeks for wrestling. There is always that little lull following the final PPV of the year and the first show of the New Year. They always seem reluctant to start building any type of hype for the Royal Rumble, especially since not a lot of people watch the shows due to the holidays. As a result, we get a show like this where nothing really happens, but at least was still an entertaining show for those that decided to tune in.

The show kicked off with Big Show coming out, and he talked about winning the World Heavyweight Championship after nine years only to lose it immediately. Big Show was pretty good here, but things picked up when Mark Henry lumbered out to the ring to make fun of him. Henry ridiculed Big Show’s short reign, and he said he was going to get his rematch. That brought out Daniel Bryan, and the champion actually acknowledged every one of his shortcomings. Bryan’s promo was OK. He kind of stumbled a few words, but I guess that’s the appeal of him. Bryan is the everyman that pursued his dream, and the dream came true. How long will that last is the question. I personally thought they could have done a little more to build him up, but I guess this is the route they decided they want to go with him. Anyway, Teddy Long came out to book a match between Show and Henry to determine who would face Bryan for the title.

The show kicked off with a match between Zack Ryder and Cody Rhodes. I thought the match was ok. They seem like they want to continue the Cody Rhodes vs. Booker T rivalry a little while longer. The match ended when Booker T sang a modified Christmas song that distracted Rhodes and cost him the match. A good singer Booker T is not. There wasn’t much here; just a match for the sake of having a match and giving a little more showcasing to WWE’s young blood champions.

Big Show and Mark Henry came out for their match, but before it began, David Otunga make his way to the ring. Otunga mentioned that Henry was suffering from some injuries that led to him not being medically cleared for this match. Big Show then drilled him in the face, and I found that absolutely hilarious. That was a real nice shot, and Otunga took it like a champ. The slow-mo replay had me absolutely rolling. I don’t know why I found it so funny. Maybe it was the coffee mug that went flying or the fact that I just watched a dude in a bowtie and argyle vest get absolutely drilled in the mush. Anyway, it seems like they did this angle to have a reason for Mark Henry to disappear for a bit or, at the very least, not wrestle for a bit.

The Miz showed up unannounced for the show for, you know, just because. Why not have The Miz on a show that they’re not really doing anything for other than just having a show? The Miz did make some good points regarding the main event scene for Smackdown, or lack thereof. I know I’m looking way far ahead, but I can see The Miz coming over to Smackdown in the draft and doing what Randy Orton did for the show this year. I think a roster switch is just what The Miz needs to continue being a force for years to come. But that’s like four months away. As for tonight, he had a mediocre match against Sheamus, who successfully defended Smackdown’s honor by kicking The Miz’s head off.

Wade Barrett came out next to announce that he was done beating up Randy Orton, and he wants to move on to the World Heavyweight Championship. Well, Randy Orton isn’t done with him. Orton chased him around the backstage area, and he RKO’d Barrett on top of a car, effectively destroying the vehicle. I thought that was a well done little brawl, and it looks like we’ll have more of this feud in the coming weeks.

Kofi Kingston beat Primo in a decent, short and sweet match. There was nothing wrong with that. I’d personally prefer having The Usos come out for this match, and scream a certain inappropriate phrase that they’re not really saying, but it sounds like they’re saying it in their entrance. Find a YouTube video of their entrance, and you’ll hear what I’m talking about.

The final half-hour of the show featured some really good wrestling. Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler started off with an excellent match. I always wonder how two guys can go out there and tear the house down knowing they have to deal with a BS ending to their match. Bryan and Ziggler went all out for that beginning of the match. These two have some great chemistry. They displayed that when they were feuding over the United States Championship a year ago, and I’m glad to see it’s carried over. Jack Swagger attacked the Big Show at ringside, so Teddy Long turned the match into a tag team match. The tag team match was, as my broadcast colleague calls it, the standard Smackdown Main Event Tag Formula™. It was a fun way to end the show, and they even managed to work in some possible tension between Daniel Bryan and the Big Show. Overall, a fun show heading into the holiday weekend.

Did you miss last week’s Smackdown? Check it out here! Also click here to check out my Tribute to the Troops recap! Finally, be sure to check out my annual Smackdown: Year in Review column later today on Christmas Eve!

Be sure to check out the Win-Loss Record of your favorite WWE Superstar on the main page!

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From my family to yours, I wish you the happiest of holidays. Thanks for reading!